{"id":7364,"date":"2026-10-06T21:51:13","date_gmt":"2026-10-06T21:51:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/truthdocuments.com\/right-to-rent-check\/"},"modified":"2026-10-06T21:54:04","modified_gmt":"2026-10-06T21:54:04","slug":"right-to-rent-check","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/truthdocuments.com\/uk\/right-to-rent-check\/","title":{"rendered":"Right to rent checks in England: who landlords must check"},"content":{"rendered":"<nav class=\"crumbs\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\"><a href=\"\/uk\/\">Home<\/a> \u203a Right to rent checks<\/nav>\n<p><span class=\"kicker\">For landlords<\/span><\/p>\n<h1>Right to rent checks in England: who landlords must check<\/h1>\n<div class=\"answer\"><strong>Short answer:<\/strong> Landlords in England must check that tenants and lodgers can legally rent, before a tenancy starts, for every tenant aged 18 or over, even if they are not named on the agreement. GOV.UK says the private renting rules changed on 1 May 2026 and asks landlords to check how this affects them.<\/div>\n<p class=\"meta\">Last reviewed: <time datetime=\"2026-10-05\">2026-10-05<\/time> \u00b7 By <a href=\"\/uk\/authors\/\">Mark Dent<\/a><\/p>\n<nav class=\"toc\" aria-label=\"On this page\"><strong>On this page<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#s1\">Who the check covers<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s2\">Three ways to check<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s3\">Doing a document check properly<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s4\">Follow-up checks and gaps<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s5\">Where checks are not required<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#s6\">Share codes, forged papers and the 2026 changes<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#faq\">Frequently asked questions<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<div class=\"keyfacts\"><strong>Key facts, read from GOV.UK on 5 October 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Before a new tenancy in England, a landlord must check every tenant aged 18 or over, even if they are not on the agreement.<\/li>\n<li>GOV.UK says renting to someone without the right to rent can bring a fine of up to &pound;20,000 for each tenant, or prison.<\/li>\n<li>Records must be kept for the tenancy and one year after.<\/li>\n<li>GOV.UK says the rules about private renting changed on 1 May 2026 and asks landlords to check how this affects them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"s1\">Who the check covers<\/h2>\n<p>The duty is to check that a tenant or lodger can legally rent a residential property in England. It applies before a new tenancy begins to all tenants aged 18 or over, even if they are not named on the tenancy agreement, there is no agreement or it is not in writing. It is against the law to check only people you think are not British citizens, and you must not discriminate against anyone because of where they are from. For a tenant who is allowed to stay in the UK only for a limited time, the check must be made in the 28 days before the tenancy starts.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"s2\">Three ways to check<\/h2>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Method<\/th>\n<th>When it fits<\/th>\n<th>What you keep<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Original documents<\/td>\n<td>British or Irish citizens, and those with accepted original immigration documents<\/td>\n<td>Copies that cannot be changed, with the date of the check<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Registered Digital Verification Service<\/td>\n<td>British or Irish citizens&#8217; documents; GOV.UK says you can use a registered service<\/td>\n<td>The record the service provides, plus the date<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Share code online<\/td>\n<td>Tenants with an eVisa, settled or pre-settled status, a biometric card or permit, or a visa applicant who used the ID Check app<\/td>\n<td>The tenant&#8217;s profile page, printed or saved, with the date<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>British and Irish citizens cannot get a share code, so their original documents must be checked. You cannot accept a biometric residence card or permit as a document; ask for a share code instead. If a tenant can prove their right with an accepted original document, you cannot insist they use the online service.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"s3\">Doing a document check properly<\/h2>\n<ol class=\"steps\">\n<li>Ask for original documents from every adult who will use the property as their main home.<\/li>\n<li>Check, with the tenant present, that the documents are genuine and belong to them.<\/li>\n<li>Confirm the photos match, dates of birth agree and are believable, and the documents are not damaged or altered.<\/li>\n<li>If names differ, ask for supporting papers such as a marriage certificate or divorce decree.<\/li>\n<li>Make and keep copies, including every relevant page of a passport, and record the date.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2 id=\"s4\">Follow-up checks and gaps<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"check\">\n<li>If permission to stay has a time limit, do a follow-up check just before the later of the permission ending or 12 months after your previous check.<\/li>\n<li>If a tenant has no right documents or valid share code, request a Home Office right to rent check through the landlord&#8217;s checking service; GOV.UK says an answer comes within 2 working days.<\/li>\n<li>Do not rent to someone who has no right documents, no valid share code and a negative Home Office answer.<\/li>\n<li>Commonwealth citizens without the usual documents may still have the right to rent; GOV.UK says to ask the Home Office.<\/li>\n<li>The landlord&#8217;s helpline is 0300 790 6268.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"s5\">Where checks are not required<\/h2>\n<p>GOV.UK lists social housing, a care home, hospice or hospital, a hostel or refuge, a mobile home and student accommodation. It also lists accommodation provided by a local authority, tied accommodation provided with a job and a lease of seven years or longer. The landlords&#8217; code of practice says whether any other checks apply instead.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"s6\">Share codes, forged papers and the 2026 changes<\/h2>\n<p>Many tenants now prove status with a share code; see <a href=\"\/uk\/uk-evisa-share-code\/\">eVisas and share codes<\/a>. Fake permits and cards are sold for exactly this check; see <a href=\"\/uk\/fake-residence-permit-brp\/\">fake residence permits<\/a> and <a href=\"\/uk\/identity-document-scams\/\">identity document scams<\/a>. The 1 May 2026 notice on GOV.UK is about private renting generally; the section we read does not set out changes to the document checks themselves, so read the current page. Employers have a parallel duty at <a href=\"\/uk\/right-to-work-check\/\">right to work checks<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"faq\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<details>\n<summary>Who must landlords check for right to rent?<\/summary>\n<p>All tenants and lodgers aged 18 or over, before a new tenancy starts in England, even if they are not named on the agreement or there is no written agreement. GOV.UK says it is against the law to check only people you think are not British citizens.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>What is the penalty for getting it wrong?<\/summary>\n<p>GOV.UK says that if you rent to someone who does not have the right to rent in England, you can be fined up to \u00a320,000 for each tenant or be sent to prison. A missed follow-up check can also lead to a fine.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>How long do I keep records?<\/summary>\n<p>GOV.UK says to keep copies of documents, or the saved profile page for an online check, for the time your tenants rent from you and for one year after. You must record the date of each check and follow data protection law.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>Do I need to check student accommodation tenants?<\/summary>\n<p>GOV.UK lists student accommodation among the types where checks are not required, together with social housing, care homes, hospices, hospitals, hostels, refuges, mobile homes and local authority or tied accommodation. A lease of seven years or longer is also outside the check.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>When did the private renting rules change?<\/summary>\n<p>GOV.UK says the rules about private renting changed on 1 May 2026 and asks landlords to check how this affects new and existing tenancies. The part we read does not describe changes to the document checks, so read the current GOV.UK page.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<div class=\"related\">\n<h2>Keep reading<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"\/uk\/uk-evisa-share-code\/\">eVisas and share codes<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/uk\/right-to-work-check\/\">Right to work checks<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/uk\/identity-document-scams\/\">All identity document scams<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/uk\/fake-residence-permit-brp\/\">Fake residence permits<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sources\">\n<h2>Sources and official links<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/check-tenant-right-to-rent-documents\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">GOV.UK: checking your tenant&#x27;s right to rent<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author\"><strong>About the author<\/strong><br \/>Written by <a href=\"\/uk\/authors\/\">Mark Dent<\/a> from official GOV.UK guidance, UK legislation and public reporting. We do not sell, issue or arrange any licence or document, and we are not part of DVLA, DVSA or any government body. See our <a href=\"\/uk\/editorial-policy\/\">editorial policy<\/a> or <a href=\"\/uk\/contact\/\">report a mistake<\/a>.<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Home \u203a Right to rent checks For landlords Right to rent checks in England: who landlords must check Short answer: Landlords in England must check that tenants and lodgers can legally rent, before a tenancy starts, for every tenant aged 18 or over, even if they are not named on the agreement. GOV.UK says the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"truthdocuments-guide","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-7364","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_hostinger_reach_plugin_has_subscription_block":false,"_hostinger_reach_plugin_is_elementor":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/truthdocuments.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7364","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/truthdocuments.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/truthdocuments.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/truthdocuments.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/truthdocuments.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7364"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/truthdocuments.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7364\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8002,"href":"https:\/\/truthdocuments.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7364\/revisions\/8002"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/truthdocuments.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7364"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}